Adjustable wedge assembly

ABSTRACT

A wedge assembly adjustable from a remote position from the wedge, for supporting forgings undergoing machining on a worktable or for other purposes. A riser member slidably mounted in a body member is supported by a wedge seated on the body member and disposed in a slot in the riser. The wedge is longitudinally displaceable through the slot by a push-pull rod whose one end is connected thereto. At the other end of the rod, remote from the riser, a toggle arrangement for axially displacing the rod and a stem-and-handle means for locking the rod at a particular displacement is provided. The body member supporting the wedge and riser is securable to the worktable under a portion of the forging or other workpiece desired to be held during machining or during other operations on a workpiece. The load of the forging or workpiece passes directly through riser, wedge and body member to the worktable, while the remotely positioned stem-and-handle and toggle arrangement facilitate the proper positioning for the wedge prior to work on the workpiece. Proper elevation of the riser member to contact the forging avoids excessive lifting of the forging or workpiece. The problem of excessive lifting exists with use of conventional jacks, resulting in an out-of-tolerance condition upon removal of the machined element from the worktable. However, use of plurality of these assemblies avoids such problem.

United States Patent 1 Surwill [54] ADJUSTABLE WEDGE ASSEMBLY [75]Inventor: Michael Surwill, Burbank, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation,

Burbank, Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 89,844

[52] US. Cl .269/228, 269/234 [51] int. Cl. ..B25b l/14 [58] Field ofSearch ..269/58, 59,76, 228, 269/234, 310,321 A, 309, 321 UE [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,843 5/1936l-lowland-Shearman ..269/234 X 378,572 2/1888 Carroll .....269/592,675,609 4/1954 Miller ..269/76 1,404,275 l/l922 Cowles 269/234 X2,424,090 7/1947 Gordinier ..269/3 10 [(23,732 11/1953 Cleveland..269/3l0 570,466 1l/1896 Dutro ..269/234 X 1,045,984 12/1912 King..269/234 X 2,696,764 12/1954 Stembergh... ..269/3l0 1,335,247 3/1920Lask ..269/3l0 3,139,177 6/1964 Allemann..... 269/58 X 3,537,701 11/1970Claycomb ..269/309 3,559,980 2/1971 Terai ..269/309 X PrimaryExaminerGranville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney-Frank L. Zugelter and GeorgeC. Sullivan 51 May 22,1973

[57] ABSTRACT A wedge assembly adjustable from a remote position fromthe wedge, for supporting forgings undergoing machining on a worktableor for other purposes. A riser member slidably mounted in a body memberis supported by a wedge seated on the body member and disposed in a slotin the riser. The wedge is longitudinally displaceable through the slotby a push-pull rod whose one end is connected thereto. At the other endof the rod, remote from the riser, a toggle arrangement for axiallydisplacing the rod and a stemand-handle means for locking the rod at aparticular displacement is provided. The body member supporting thewedge and riser is securable to the worktable under a portion of theforging or other workpiece desired to be held during machining or duringother operations on a workpiece. The load of the forging or workpiecepasses directly through riser, wedge and body member to the worktable,while the remotely positioned stem-and-handle and toggle arrangementfacilitate the proper positioning for the wedge prior to work on theworkpiece. Proper elevation of the riser member to contact the forgingavoids excessive lifting of the forging or workpiece. The problem ofexcessive lifting exists with use of conventional jacks, resulting in anout-of-tolerance condition upon removal of the machined element from theworktable. However, use of plurality of these assemblies avoids suchproblem.

15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNAYZZIQYS 3 734,481

MICHAEL SURWILL INVENTOR.

Bi v ZCgem Mai A rney BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The field of art to which the invention is most likely topertain is located in a class of devices generally relating to wedges;Classes 248, Supports; 254, Pushing and Pulling Implements; and 269,Workholders, U. S. Patent Office Classifications, may be the applicablegeneral areas of art in which the claimed subject matter of the typeinvolved here may be classified.

2. Description of the Prior Art Examples of prior art devices in thearts to which this invention most likely pertains are U. S. LettersPatent Nos. 1,726,260; 1,988,840; 2,147,909; 2,831,654; and 3 ,239 ,2 l8.

PROBLEMS IN THE PRIOR ART In the process of machining large forgings andcastings, the clamping forces developed by clamping such parts to aworkbed induce deflections in such a manner that when the machined partis removed from the workbed, it has not been properly machined. Anoutof-tolerance condition develops at an unsupported portion of theworkpiece as a result of the clamping forces placed on the workpieceprior to machining but after supporting jacks have been applied. Thus,many complex workpieces have had to be scrapped. In prior efforts toovercome this problem, laborious and timeconsuming processes of shoringup unsupported portions of such a part, before application of strappingclamps, were carried out. Thereafter, such clamps pulled the workpiecedown snug against the workbed. On the other hand, in carrying out theeffort to make snug such workpiece, screwjacks and pop-up jacks wereused to shore up various and many portions of the large workpiece,however, the mechanical advantage of such jacks has been too great forthe purpose of providing the operator a feel. That is, the operatorcould not satisfactorily determine whether an excessive lifting wasoccuring by use of a jack or a proper support was, in fact, established.Such a lifting went unnoticed in many cases, even with experiencedoperators. On the other hand, were such lifting noticed, additionalset-up time with such jacks would be required to once again properlysupport the forging or casting prior to clamping and the subsequentmachining on the workbed.

Another problem that existed prior to this invention was the inabilityof gaining access into areas to support a forging during a machiningprocess. The clearance between the worktable and workpiece along thelength of the forging or casting is very limited, thus, the number ofsuch positions for access to jacks were limited. As a result, placing ofthe jacks was impaired, and in many instances, accurate positioning ofsuch jacks along particular portions of the forgings and castings hadbeen impaired, and difficult to achieve if at all.

In other words, because of the requirement of clamps to hold stationarythe workpiece, a positive location for and at a given height for a jackto support the workpiece could not be satisfactorily and consistentlyachieved. And adjustment of a jack when positioned in a limited accessarea has not provided an adequate feel" by an operator. All this has ledto a machined element which was out-of-tolerance.

These problems are overcome by the novel device disclosed and claimedherein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide anovel assembly of elements providing proper support of a workpiece onits worktable.

Another object of the invention is to provide elimination of a scrappedmachined part which heretofore has been produced in instances as aresult of excessive lifting thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly which isefficient in operation, simple in construction, and relativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively smallmechanical advantage in the direction of lift on a workpiece supportedon a machine bed but nevertheless provide a positive contact between thesupporting assembly and the workpiece whereby proper and consistentsupport is achieved without excessive lifting of the workpiece prior toclamping the workpiece.

A still further object of the invention is to avoid an out-of-tolernacecondition that develops in a machined part as a result of impropersupport thereof during a machining process thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide efficient positioning andlocation of a wedge assembly supporting a forging-to-be-machined in orout of limited access areas between the workpiece and its worktable, byremotely positioning actuating and/or locking means for the assembly.

Other objects of the invention are to provide minimum set-up time formachining of a workpiece, forging or casting, and to minimize scrapping,if any, thereof, thereby resulting in labor and cost of materialsavings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a positive, quick andfacile adjustment of a supporting assembly, regardless of its positionor location between a workpiece and its bed.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon afull and complete reading of the following description, appended claimsthereto and the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apreferred embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the FIGS. in whichreference characters correspond to like numerals in the followingdescription, 10 (FIG. 1) refers to a portable adjustable wedge assemblyembodying the invention. Assembly 10 comprises a head or riser member 12adapted for lineal movement in one plane, a wedge member 14 slidablyengaging a slot 16 provided in the substance of the riser member 12, asupport member or body 17 supporting member 14 and restricting directionof movement of riser member 12 within such plane, actuating means 18,preferably in the form of rod, connected to the wedge member 14 at itsone end, a means 20 such as a push-pull toggle arrangement provided at aremote point from the location of the riser member 12 and wedge member14 for axially displacing means 18 within a second plane, and a means 22such as a shaftand-handle device for securing or locking means 18 at aparticular or desired axial position.

The riser member 12 includes a skirt 22 retained and slidably disposedwithin a cavity 23 of body 17 and has a portion 21 projecting exteriorlyfrom the cavity 23. The support member 17 is adapted for securement to asub-base or worktable (not shown) on which a forging is disposed andsubsequently securely held by clamping straps or the like (not shown)for machining purposes. It is on the top 25 of the head or riser member12 that a portion of the forging or other workpiece sets or is supportedduring machining or other operation thereon. A means 26 is providedwithin body 17, as shown in FIG. 2, for preventing separation of risermember 12 from any longitudinal position of wedge member 14 in slot 16.

The means 26 may take the form of a plurality of coiled compressionsprings 27 each of which is disposed and retained in one of acorresponding number of bores 28 peripherally located at the base of arecess 29 formed in the bottom of the body 17. A plate 30 suitablysecured to the bottom of riser member 12 maintains compression of suchsprings 27 in bores 28, whereby a constant downward pull or push onriser 12 against wedge member 14 develops and is maintained to preventthe separation of their facing surfaces or walls 31 and 32,respectively. It should be apparent, however, that assembly neverthelessis operative should such a means 26 be omitted, and that only a manualresetting of riser member 12 would be necessary to lower the top 25thereof, if it were not to drop by gravitational force alone, so thatthe top wall surface inclination 31 of slot 16 directly abuts against orengages an inclined wall 32 of wedge member 14 prior to introduction ofassembly 10 under a portion of a forging or workpiece.

The slot 16 is cut out of the substance or material forming riser member12, and begins at the base thereof extending, preferably diametrically,upwardly therein to a desired level which is above the top surface 33(FIG. 3) of the body 17 but not to the extent of the riser top 25, inorder to introduce wedge member 14 therethrough and still retain a solidportion extending above slot 16 to the top 25 for contact with andsupport for a forging. The base 34 of wedge member 14 seats upon the topsurface 33 of body 17 and is preferably of greater length than itswidest dimension shown in FIG. 2. Its wall or edge 32 is inclinedrelative to base 34. A corresponding inclination is included in theupper wall 31 of slot 16 for registry therewith. It should now beapparent that riser member 12 rises and falls with the longitudinalmovement of wedge member 14 across body 17. Body 17 is securely fastenedto a worktable (not shown), in the utilization of assembly 10, bysuitable means such as by threaded countersunk bolts inserted throughcorresponding holes 36 (FIG. 3) extending therethrough.

Rod 18 is connected at its one end 38 (FIG. 2) to wedge member 14,preferably at its smaller vertical side 40 as distinguished from itshigher vertical side 41. A set screw 42 threaded into member 14registers against a corresponding groove 43 in end 38 for securing suchconnection. Other conventional connections may be utilized.

The means 20, 22 are provided at the remote other end 44 (FIG. 1) of therod 18 for axially displacing and for securing or locking rod 18 at aparticular axial position, respectively. Means 20 exists as apurchasable push-pull toggle article 46, Model CL-2100-PC, manufacturedby the Carr Lane Manufacturing Co., 4200 Krause Court, St. Louis, Mo.63119, and includes a lever 50 having a dogleg 52 pivoted upon abifurcated arm 54 cast at one end of a frame 56 for the article 46 and apair of links 58 pivotally connected at the joint of the lever 50 andits dogleg 52 and at corresponding flats 60 included on one end of a bar62 slidably mounted in a collar 64 cast at the other end of the frame56. At the other end of the bar 62, a threaded bore is provided forsecuring (threaded) rod end 44 thereto. The effect of the toggle actionof the article 46; i.e., by pushing or pulling the lever 50, is toexchange the effort distance (swinging of lever 50) for a relativelyhigh mechanical advantage desired for longitudinally moving the wedgemember 14 to-and-fro across the body 17. In other words, the wedgemember 14 is thrust rapidly through a smaller distance than the swingingdistance of the lever 50, and a relatively greater force in moving thewedge member 14 is obtained in so doing. However, a relatively lowmechanical advantage is obtained with respect to the vertical movementof the riser member 12. Thus, the feel by an operator in properlyadjusting the height of the riser member 12 to the underside of aforging or the like on a worktable is facilitated and satisfactorilyachieved. The problem of excessive lifting of a forging is avoided, orsolved, by what amounts practically to an automatic sensing of thenecessary contact required between the riser member 12 and the forging.With a conventional screwjack or pop-up jack, the problem of saggingalong its unsupported areas or excessive lifting at the areas supportedby the assembly 10, of the forging, is always present, regardless of theexperience of the operator. However, this problem is overcome withassembly 10, the number thereof used, of course, depending on thecomplexity and size of the workpiece.

Pulling the lever 50 away from the body 17 axially displaces the rod 18in a direction away from body 17 and thereby provides for raising of theriser 12. Moving the lever 50 toward the body 17 displaces the rod 18 ina direction toward body 17 and thereby provides for lowering the riser12. A securing plate 68 is also cast in, respectively article 46 forsecurely connecting it to a suitable block 70 used as an expedienttoward maintaining the rod 18 in a plane generally in alignment with thewedge member 14.

The locking means 22 may comprise any conventional device whichpositively prevents the rod 18 from axially displacing, such as a thumbscrew device. Other suitable devices may also be utilized. The article46 is easily modified to provide a support for a locking means 22 in anyposition for rod 18. A threaded shaft or stem 72 having a handle or handwheel '74 mounted on its one end is threaded into a threaded bore of aboss (not shown) easily welded in a horizontal manner to the collar 64.Advancing the shaft 72 into the boss provides engagement of its end withthe bar 62 thereby in effect locking the rod 18 in a particular axialdisposition by the pressure exerted by shaft 64 against the bar 62.

Assembly of device 10 is readily apparent from the above description andthe drawing. Its operation should also 'beapparent, however, briefly,the lever 56 is pushed toward the body 17 to reduce the height of theriser 12 in order for introduction of the assembly to a position alongand under a forging or the like setting on a worktable. Once inposition, the lever 50 is pulled outwardly; i.e., away from the body 12,to raise the head or riser 12. A swift and quick thrust of the riser 12occurs as the wedge member 14 longitudinally displaces in its slot 16. Apositive contact by the top 25 is immediately obtained to provide adesired unyieldable plane for supporting the workpiece or the like onsuch plane. Thereafter, the means 22 may be applied to effectively lockand prevent further axial movement of the rod 18 and consequently,movement of the riser 12.

A inclination for the wedge member 14 is preferred in connection withsupporting huge and heavy aluminum forgings whose ultimate utilizationis found in aircraft frames. in this particular use of the assembly 10,it is desirous to maintain the sufficiently low mechanical advantage inthe plane in which the riser 12 displaces so that rapid travel over ashort distance therefor occurs and hence the operator can easily andimmediately tell when the riser 12 has made adequate contact with theforging. Unnecessary lifting occurs with a screwjack or pop-up jack, asinitial contact with a forging doesnt provide a feel to an operator.Consequently, he continues to raise such jack. Clamping of the workpiecethen pulls it down to the workbed, and after machining thereof, thefinished product may be out-of-tolerance. It should be apparent thateither additional set-up time and/or scrapping is the effect in theevent that the jack support is not proper.

The remote location of the means 20 further provides another advantage,as it facilitates operation of and reduces set-up time, whereas accessto conventional jacks or the like, at the point of support of theforging, such as in limited access areas, is very difficult under manycircumstances.

Furthermore, a feedback force to the means 20 is averted even with themeans 22 loose. This advantage occurs as any clamping forces on theforging acts down wardly directly through the riser 12 and the body 17to the workbed, and is not transferred to the means 20.

Assembly 10 may be formed of suitable materials, such as metal.

Pursuant to the requirements of the patent statutes, the principle ofthis invention has been explained and exemplified in a manner so that itcan be readily practiced by those skilled in the art to which itpertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, suchexemplification including what is presently considered to represent thebest embodiment of the invention. However, it should be clearlyunderstood that the above description and illustrations are not intendedto unduly limit the scope of the appended claims, but that therefrom theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described andexemplified herein, by those skilled in the art, and having the benefitof this disclosure.

Therefore, what I claim as patentably novel is:

1. In a portable wedge assembly, including a riser member providing anunyieldable plane of support for a workpiece or the like upon adjustmentof the height of the wedge, and means for actuating the wedge to soadjust the height of the riser member,

the improvement comprising,

a support member having means defining a cavity,

said riser member having a skirt slidable within said cavity and havinga portion projecting exteriorly of said support member,

said riser member defining a slot therethrough and which slot includes asurface inclination in its exteriorly projecting portion,

the wedge being disposed and retained in said slot for slidableengagement with said surface inclination, said wedge being exteriorlyslidably seated on and supported by said support member across saidmeans defining a cavity, said support member not extending above saidwedge, whereby sliding movement of the wedge across said support memberby the actuating means causes it to adjust the height of said risermember.

2. The improvement of claim 1 including means for displacing saidactuating means to a particular position whereby said riser is disposedat a desired level by longitudinal movement of said wedge correspondingto the movement of said actuating means in its displacement to suchposition.

3. The improvement of claim 2 including means for positively lockingsaid actuating means and being connected to said actuating means at adistance from the wedge assembly.

4. The improvement of claim 3 in which said locking means is a supportedstem-and-handle means for tightening the stem thereof against saiddisplacing means.

5. The improvement of claim 3 in which said actuating means is a rod.

6. The improvement of claim 5 in which said locking means is a supportedstem-and-handle means for tightening against said rod.

7. The improvement of claim 1 in which said actuating means is anaxially-positionable rod.

8. The improvement of claim 2 in which said actuating means is anaxially-positionable rod and said displacing means is a togglearrangement connected to said rod for axially positioning same.

9. The improvement of claim 8 including means for positively lockingsaid actuating means at a particular linear position.

10. The improvement of claim 9 in which said lock ing means is astem-and-handle means thereon, the stem effectively exerting force toprevent movement of said rod.

11'. The improvement of claim 1 including means for biasing said risermember against said wedge to prevent their separation regardless of themovement of said wedge across said support member.

12. The improvement of claim 11 in which said biasing means is at leastone compression spring, with a recess in said support member, a platesecured to the skirt of said riser and retained within said recess, andsaid spring being mounted in said support member and seating againstsaid plate.

13. The improvement of claim 1 in with said support member is acylindrical sleeve, said riser member being slip-fitted thereto.

14. The improvement of claim 13 including means for biasing said risermember against said wedge to prevent their separation regardless of themovement of said wedge across said support member.

15. The improvement of claim 14 in which said biasing means is at leastone compression spring, with a recess in said support member, a platesecured to the skirt of said riser and retained within said recess, andsaid spring being mounted in said support member and reacting againstsaid plate.

1. In a portable wedge assembly, including a riser member providing anunyieldable plane of support for a workpiece or the like upon adjustmentof the height of the wedge, and means for actuating the wedge to soadjust the height of the riser member, the improvement comprising, asupport member having means defining a cavity, said riser member havinga skirt slidable within said cavity and having a portion projectingexteriorly of said support member, said riser member defining a slottherethrough and which slot includes a surface inclination in itsexteriorly projecting portion, the wedge being disposed and retained insaid slot for slidable engagement with said surface inclination, saidwedge being exteriorly slidably seated on and supported by said supportmember across said means defining a cavity, said support member notextending above said wedge, whereby sliding movement of the wedge acrosssaid support member by the actuating means causes it to adjust theheight of said riser member.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 includingmeans for displacing said actuating means to a particular positionwhereby said riser is disposed at a desired level by longitudinalMovement of said wedge corresponding to the movement of said actuatingmeans in its displacement to such position.
 3. The improvement of claim2 including means for positively locking said actuating means and beingconnected to said actuating means at a distance from the wedge assembly.4. The improvement of claim 3 in which said locking means is a supportedstem-and-handle means for tightening the stem thereof against saiddisplacing means.
 5. The improvement of claim 3 in which said actuatingmeans is a rod.
 6. The improvement of claim 5 in which said lockingmeans is a supported stem-and-handle means for tightening against saidrod.
 7. The improvement of claim 1 in which said actuating means is anaxially-positionable rod.
 8. The improvement of claim 2 in which saidactuating means is an axially-positionable rod and said displacing meansis a toggle arrangement connected to said rod for axially positioningsame.
 9. The improvement of claim 8 including means for positivelylocking said actuating means at a particular linear position.
 10. Theimprovement of claim 9 in which said locking means is a stem-and-handlemeans thereon, the stem effectively exerting force to prevent movementof said rod.
 11. The improvement of claim 1 including means for biasingsaid riser member against said wedge to prevent their separationregardless of the movement of said wedge across said support member. 12.The improvement of claim 11 in which said biasing means is at least onecompression spring, with a recess in said support member, a platesecured to the skirt of said riser and retained within said recess, andsaid spring being mounted in said support member and seating againstsaid plate.
 13. The improvement of claim 1 in with said support memberis a cylindrical sleeve, said riser member being slip-fitted thereto.14. The improvement of claim 13 including means for biasing said risermember against said wedge to prevent their separation regardless of themovement of said wedge across said support member.
 15. The improvementof claim 14 in which said biasing means is at least one compressionspring, with a recess in said support member, a plate secured to theskirt of said riser and retained within said recess, and said springbeing mounted in said support member and reacting against said plate.